03x07 - Sometimes

[bunniefuu]

Previously on This Is Us...

Now remember, big brothers look out for their little brothers.

It's their only job.

I want to enlist, Doc.

I need to be there with him.

Hey, little brother.

BETH: I have known her all of her life.

Her background is complicated.

She will break you, Kevin.

KEVIN: That is a visa application for a trip to Vietnam.

I'm gonna go to the place where my dad last served.

I'm gonna track down that woman, and I'm gonna figure out my dad's story.

Vietnam, huh?

- Do you want to go?
- Yeah.

Yeah, all right.

Do you want to go on a drive?

Where do you want to go?

Los Angeles.

- Yeah.
- Yeah?

Yeah, let's go to Los Angeles.

♪

Hi. Uh, could I get a look at that one?

Shiny. Girls like shiny, right?

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(SPEAKING VIETNAMESE)

PILOT (OVER P.A.): Preparing for landing at Tân Son Nhat International Airport.

(FLAMES CRACKLING)

Jack.

Is that really you?

Yeah, it's really me.

(EXHALES HEAVILY)

If you die out here, that's not on me.

It's okay.

It's okay.

Don't, no. Don't touch me.
Don't look at me.

You're not here. I'm not here.

I'm not even here.

(NICKY SNIFFS)

What are you on, Nick?

(SNIFFS)

(LAUGHS)

(LAUGHING)

I'm gonna get you out of here.

- Oh, yeah?
- Yeah.

(LAUGHS): How?

- I'll figure something out.
- Oh, yeah?

Why, do you got a plan, Jack?

I got charged with Article .
That's unbecoming conduct.

I'll figure something out.

Jesus Christ.

You know... it was just a nickname, man.

You're not Superman.

It's just a... stupid nickname.

(GENTLE MUSIC PLAYS ON RADIO)

♪ Sitting in a park in Paris, France ♪

♪ Reading the news and it sure looks bad ♪

- ♪ They won't give peace a chance ♪
- (SIGHS)

♪ That was just a dream some of us had... ♪

Well, we're officially out of Pittsburgh.

Only , more miles till we get to Los Angeles.

- So almost there.
- Yeah, exactly.

(BOTH LAUGH)

♪ I'll even kiss a sunset pig ♪

♪ California, I'm coming home... ♪

My mom says I'm nuts for doing this with a guy I barely know.

We've known each other a whole week.

(CHUCKLES)

♪ Who did the goat dance very well ♪

♪ He gave me back my smile, but he kept my camera to sell... ♪

The record label that I'm meeting with out in L.A.?

- Mm-hmm.
- They actually released this album.

- Really?
- Mm-hmm.

- (TURNS UP VOLUME)
- ♪ But my heart cried out for you... ♪

They'd be lucky to have you. I mean...

This woman's got nothing on you.

D... "This woman" is Joni Mitchell, and she runs circles around me.

- I don't think so.
- Um, she does.

(SIGHS)

Oh, I can't wait to get to L.A.

Sunset Boulevard.

The Pacific Ocean.

- Mm.
- Mm.

See, I love being from Pittsburgh, but sometimes it just feels a little small.

- Yeah.
- ♪ All the news of home... ♪

Oh, my friend, Nicole, says that we can stay with her as long as we need to.
- Sounds good.

♪ Bought me a ticket, I got on a plane to Spain ♪

♪ Went to a party down a red dirt road... ♪

Is there anything that you want to do in particular when you're out in L.A.?

I want to go see some folks I know in Reseda.

Oh.

Friends of yours or...?

Yeah, sort of.

♪ Oh, will you take me as I am? ♪

♪ Strung out on another man... ♪

I made some turkey sandwiches.

I don't know if you're a turkey fan, but...

- I love turkey.
- Ah, me, too.

Look at us... couple of turkey freaks.

- (LAUGHS)
- Driving across the country.

And my mom said it was too soon to take a road trip.

Yeah?

♪ Take me as I am. ♪

I can't believe we're in Vietnam.

It's amazing.
I wonder if my dad actually flew in here before he was stationed, you know?

It's like I already kind of feel connected to him just being here.

Hey, when do we get to my dad's fishing village?

- Monday.
- Awesome.

Hey.

Say "Vietna-cheese."

- I just made that up.
- I'm sure.

Just don't tag me on Instagram.

Really?

I thought we graduated to "tagging" status.

It's not that.

I just don't want my dad to know I'm in Vietnam.

I'm gonna need more words.

My father lives in China.

If he sees I'm in Vietnam, he'll try and reach out and see me.

Don't want to see him.

- Your father lives in China?
- Yeah.

You literally never mentioned that before.

Or-or really anything about your family.

Well... Hey, I found us this great market for lunch.

Best bánh bèo in town.

It's like eating the ocean.

Okay. Yeah, no. Looks great.

Let's, uh, let the greatest trip of all time begin.

Major Dawson?

- Who are you?
- I'm Jack Pearson.

Nicky Pearson's brother.

(GROANS SOFTLY)

I'm a staff sergeant down a ville on the Sông Trà Khúc.

Came here for my brother.

I was hoping to take him back with me.

- Get his ass squared away.
- (SCOFFS)

That kid hasn't been "squared away" for months.

Insubordination, partying like it's Woodstock.

That's why I got him on doo-doo detail.

I can get him right, sir. I know I can.

Why's that, Pearson?
'Cause you're his brother?

'Cause you used to share a room?

Used to whisper ghost stories to each other in the dark?

He's not cut out for this.

That's why I'm here.

Well, you're too late.

You know, we did used to share a room.

Drafty old house, a lot of spiders, big spiders.

Spiders so big, you could see their knees.

My father saw one of them, he'd take the nearest rolled-up newspaper, smash the hell out of it.

You know what Nicky would do when he saw a spider?

He'd go to the kitchen, he'd get himself a glass, grab a comic book, and then carefully, so carefully, he would guide the spider onto the book, trap it under the glass
and then take it outside, so it could crawl away.

That was his favorite part, watching it be okay.

(SIGHS)

I need to try and save my little brother before 'Nam eats him alive.

Sir, please.

We don't put brothers in the same outfit.

That's basic policy.

I mean, who wants to write two condolence letters to the same mother?

Now I suggest you make your way back to your ville.

Guess you're walking.

V.C. owns the road at night.

You better move out.

Sir.

Thank you.

Chicken. Bat.

KEVIN: Great. Appreciate it.

I wonder what "bat" means in English.

It means bat.

Hmm?

Really? You're just gonna sit there and casually eat a bat?

I like to immerse myself when I travel.

- You want to try?
- No. No, I do not.

No way. No way in hell. You enjoy.

- Coward.
- Well, I'm sorry my taste buds aren't eclectic like yours.

We were more of a, like, a beige food fam growing up, you know?

A lot of chicken nuggets, lot of mac and cheese.

Want to get wild, we'd go, like, chicken potpie every once in a while. What about you?

What about me?

Well, you know, what was dinner like when you were a kid?

For you. I mean, I know you moved in with Beth's family when you were eight, I know that, but before that.

I don't know. Dinner's dinner.

- Right. Got it.
- Oh, God.

Please tell me we don't look that touristy.

Excuse me. Excu...

Excuse me. Hi.

Your necklace, I... uh, uh, do you mind telling me where you got that?

Souvenir shop, at the entrance.

Here.

(MOUTHS)

Can I ask you a question.
Do you sell a lot of these?

(SALESGIRL SPEAKING VIETNAMESE)

Sell many, many, many.

(SONG CONTINUES PLAYING)

JACK: So how did you get this meeting?

With the record company?

My friend Nicole got my demo to an assistant, and then the assistant got it to an A&R guy there.

- Oh, wow.
- Yeah.

And what happens when they fall in love with you?

- Which they will.
- (LAUGHS)

I think I make a more professional-sounding demo.

And then, if by some miracle, that goes well, I make a full album.

And then, if we're really getting into fantasyland, I...

...I open up for Neil Young.

Mm. And then I'm just on the road.

Is that what you want?

- I don't know.
- Hmm.

I just love watching people dance while I sing.

People don't slow dance nearly as much as they should.

- (EXHALES)
- (SONG ENDS)

And I... love doing my small part to keep it alive.

Hint taken.

("LONELY COMIN' DOWN" BY DOLLY PARTON PLAYING)

Oh.

(LAUGHS): Okay.

♪ I woke up ♪

♪ This morning ♪

♪ In a strange place ♪

- Ooh.
- (BOTH LAUGH)

♪ I looked into... ♪

Where did you get those moves?

Well, it wasn't Christmas in my house until my mom got to dance to Frank Sinatra's Christmas record.
- Mm-hmm.

My dad, he didn't like to dance with her.

So I, I might have picked up a move or two.

Hmm. (CHUCKLES)

♪ But you could not be found... ♪

(QUIETLY): Look how sweet they are.

(CHUCKLING)

Sorry, I'm kind of an easy cry.

That's okay.

I mean, I usually make it past the third date.

(BOTH LAUGH)

What about you? Are you a crier?

Nope. Never.

- Never?
- Mm-mmm.

Like...

not even at the end of Old Yeller?

No, I...

I've gotten really good at just swallowing the bad stuff.

This is nice.

You know, it's like I always say.

People don't slow dance nearly as much as they should.

♪ I woke up this morning ♪

♪ In a strange place... ♪

- Yeah, that's...
- Yeah, exactly.

♪ I looked into the mirror... ♪

Did you want to use the sink first?

- Hmm?
- To, uh, brush your teeth, or...

Oh, yeah. Okay.

♪ Then I looked ♪

♪ For you ♪

♪ But you could not ♪

♪ Be found ♪

♪ And then I felt the lonely ♪

♪ Coming down... ♪

You know, I think my grandfather had those pajamas.

Be quiet. I like to be toasty when I sleep.

♪ To the empty bed ♪

♪ Saw the imprint ♪

♪ On the pillow ♪

♪ Where you laid your head ♪

♪ The presence of you... ♪

Three dates, three kisses.

Three amazing kisses.

♪ Around ♪

♪ And once again ♪

♪ I felt the lonely ♪

♪ Coming down ♪

♪ Then I felt the lonely ♪

♪ Dripping down ♪

♪ My face ♪

♪ As I realized ♪

♪ No one could take your place ♪

♪ And then again, I felt the lonely ♪

♪ Coming down ♪

♪ Hmm, hmm... ♪

(LAUGHS)

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(GASPING)

REBECCA: Hey.

Hey, Jack.

Hey, Jack, Jack. Hey, Jack.

You okay?

Yeah.

I'm okay. (SNIFFS)

♪

Have you been having a lot of bad dreams since you got back from Vietnam?

You know, I don't really remember my dreams much, so...

Okay.

But maybe, you're having these nightmares because you...

Rebecca.

- Please.
- Sorry.

It's okay.

(CANS RATTLING)

Hello. Hi.

I'm trying to get to the river.

(SPEAKS IN VIETNAMESE)

- Sông Trà Khúc.
- Sông Trà Khúc?

Yeah. Yeah, the, uh, fishing-fishing ville.

Y-You know the fishing ville... you take me there?

(WHISTLES)

I'm Jack.

Jack.

- You...?
- Bao.

Bao.

Nice to meet you, Bao.

- You walk. No drive?
- No. No walk.

No drive. My ride left, I...

- You can take me.
- Yeah?

(CHUCKLES)

Of course.

("STAY WITH ME" BY FACES PLAYING)

(SONG CONTINUES PLAYING)

You are gonna love Nicole.

She moved from Pittsburgh to be an actress.

- Uh-huh.
- She just did a paper towel commercial.

- Oh, wow.
- Yeah.

♪ In the morning, don't say you love me ♪

♪ 'Cause I'll only kick you out of the door ♪

♪ I know your name is Rita ♪

♪ 'Cause your perfume smelling sweeter ♪

♪ Since when I saw you down on the floor ♪

NICOLE: Oh, Becky!

- Becky.
- Becky?

She is the only one allowed to call me that.

Don't get any ideas. Oh...

(BOTH LAUGHING)

Oh, is this him?

Uh, this is, uh, Jack.

Hey. Thanks for having us.

This place is amazing. You live here?

I'm staying here while Greg's on location in Canada.

Greg Billagio.
He's an up-and-coming director, and my occasional sweetheart.
- Oh.

- Oh, drinks. You guys need drinks.
- Yes.

I'll get them. Let you two catch up.

- Thank you.
- Oh, he's a gentleman.

- (BOTH CHUCKLING)
- Okay, tell me about your Jack.

I don't even know what to say.
It's still so new.

(SIGHS) So, we've been traveling together for a few days now, and I just, I feel like I don't know any more about him than when we first started.

Like, he's going to visit someone in Reseda tomorrow, and he won't tell me who it is.
- You think it's a girl?

No, no, no, no, no. Not like that.

It's just, he, um...he just got back from Vietnam, so he's clearly working through some things, but he won't talk to me about it.

I just... ugh, I wish he would let me be in it with him.

You're really wild about this guy, huh, Becky?

Yeah. I just...
I want to be wherever he is.

I just wish he would let me in.

(SIGHS)

KEVIN: I was positive that this necklace came from that woman in the photo, you know, that it had some epic origin story to it.

It turns out you can get it anywhere here.

- Kevin...
- Maybe Randall was right.

I should've just left well enough alone, you know.

Let my father be remembered the way he wanted to be remembered, and stop asking so many questions.

You ever go through anything like that?

Did I ever travel to Vietnam to find out my father's w*r story?

No. I think I would've mentioned that uncanny coincidence to you.

I think you know what I mean.

Mind if we go back to the hotel?

I-I think I want to lay down.

Yeah, no, let's go back to the hotel.

You can continue to tell me absolutely nothing about your life.

- That's not fair.
- Really?

- I tell you plenty.
- I'm just saying, you know, you're obviously going through something with your dad.

I'm not going through anything, Kevin.

It's just a constant, terrible part of my life that I try not to dwell on.

So... can we please go back to the hotel?

I-I don't think I feel well.

That's real mature. That's great.

(RETCHING)

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Oh, wow. That's a lot of bad bat.

There you go, m'am.

- Hey.
- Hi.

- Champagne.
- Thank you.

- ALL: Cheers.
- (LOUD POP)

Mm! (SIGHS)

- It was just champagne.
- Okay.

- Are you okay?
- Yeah.

I'm fine.

I'm fine.

Bao, why are we stopping?

(SPEAKS VIETNAMESE)

What is this place? Where are we, Bao?

(SPEAKS VIETNAMESE)

You.

(SPEAKS VIETNAMESE)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER IN VIETNAMESE)

Please be a good guy, Bao.

(SPEAKS VIETNAMESE)

What you got, Squirrel?

Toe popper. Homemade.

(TALKS QUIETLY)

(SPEAKS VIETNAMESE)

(SPEAKS VIETNAMESE)

You gonna take me back to my squad, Bao?

(SPEAKS VIETNAMESE)

(ENGINE STARTS)

The bathroom's down the hall, if you need it.

Okay.

I can't talk about it.

Vietnam.

What I did and what I saw.

I just, I don't...

I don't want to bring that part of my life into... this with you.

Okay.

Are you gonna come back to Pittsburgh?

I don't know.

(SOFT LAUGH)

♪

- Good luck.
- Thanks.

Good luck with... yours, too.

Thanks.

REBECCA: ♪ Give it enough time ♪

♪ Just give it time. ♪

(SONG ENDS)

Good stuff. Great stuff.

- That was beautiful.
- Really?

- Mm-hmm.
- Thank you.

Thank you for coming in.

- So...
- So keep in touch.

Definitely keep us posted on what you're up to.

All right, thank you very much for your time.

Nice to meet you. Thank you. Thanks.

(EXECUTIVE SIGHS)

Um, I'm-I'm sorry. (CHUCKLES)

Could you actually just be a little bit more specific with your feedback?

Meaning?

"Keep in touch," what does that look like?

You let us know if you have a show, and we will try to get someone out to see it.

And then what?

And then we keep in touch.

(CHUCKLES)

Please, I-I drove a really long way.

If you could be very clear.

- Where'd you say you were from?
- Pittsburgh.

(SIGHS)

I think you're Pittsburgh good.

Thank you. I appreciate the feedback.

Mrs. Watterson?

Yes. Can I help you?

Mr. Watterson.

I'm Staff Sergeant Jack Pearson.

Your son was under my command.

I'm responsible for his death.

Bao, why-why are you stopping?

Why are you stopping?
The ville is that way.

You walk. You walk. (SPEAKS VIETNAMESE)

You go. You walk.

Are you a good guy or a bad guy, Bao?

Are you V.C.?

Sometime.

Everything about the w*r is murky, and all my memories are just... murky.

I don't know whose idea it was to pick up the football first that day, but knowing Squirrel... excuse me, Roger... knowing Roger, it was probably his idea.

A lot of energy, that kid.

It was a quiet night.

At least, we... we thought it was.

- (INSECTS CHIRRING)
- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Hey, Townie, knock it off.

- Oh, just one more, Sarge.
- No.

- Go long, pretty boy.
- Boon, you got a can?

I don't think you got the arm, Townie.

Yeah, want to bet? Go deep.

Now, for a big boy, you sure throw like a small...
- (expl*si*n)

I let my guard down.

I failed many times when I was over there, but taking my eye off your son, that...

It was the worst thing I did, and I take responsibility.

I take full responsibility.

And I know it may not mean much but...

I needed to come here and tell you that, well, he was one of the good ones.

And that I am sorry.

♪

It wasn't your fault, son.

It wasn't.

- (KNOCKING ON DOOR)
- (DOOR OPENS)

Don't say anything.

It's the safest place for me to be right now.

Okay. Uh...

I got you this. I can't read the label, but, um, it's either coconut water or suntan lotion.

I'd give it a little sniff before I drank it, if I were you.

- Want me to help you with that?
- No, I-I can do it.

No, you can't.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

(SIGHS)

Coconut water?

- Suntan lotion.
- Ah.

You know, my dad, um... he kept the first years of his life a secret from my mom, which worked for them, you know.

I mean, it more than worked for them, actually, but...

I don't want that for us.

Okay? I don't.

I-I want to be able to tell you everything and I want to know...

I want to know everything about you. (CHUCKLES)

But if I can't, um, it's okay.

That's okay because you smell like peaches, and, well, right now you-you don't.

You smell like garbage right now, actually, but, typically, you smell like peaches.

And you keep snacks in that big purse that you have and...

Well, I'm falling in love with you.

Whether you open up to me or not,

I'm falling in love with you.

My father sexually abused me.

He, uh... he tries to contact me every so often, try and make amends, but I have no interest.

I've moved on.

Um, I'm not telling you this because you asked me to, or because you told me you-you're falling in love with me, or even because I'm falling in love with you, too.

I'm telling you this because my father has already ruined so much for me, and I'm not gonna let him ruin this, too.

I d... I didn't, um...

It's just you-you always seem so strong, you know.

I-I didn't, uh...

I am strong.

Thank you.

How'd it go?

Uh, it went okay.

How did it go, your visit?

Yeah, it went, uh, as good as it could go.

It's kind of nuts here, right?

I mean, every day you wake up, it's and sunny.

What is that? I like the rain.

They said that I was "Pittsburgh good," which I've decided to take as a compliment.

Can I hear the song?

I think that I'm done singing for today.

Bec, please.

Bec?

No one has ever called me that.

I like it.

(SIGHS)

♪ People say it's nice to meet me ♪

♪ I often wonder why ♪

♪ I've studied my reflections ♪

♪ I've looked me in the eye ♪

♪ But I still can't draw conclusions ♪

♪ I'm still talking out of turn ♪

♪ Now I ask too many questions ♪

♪ About the lessons I won't learn ♪

♪ It turns out all my mistakes ♪

♪ Were forgivable ♪

♪ And the time I spend lost... ♪

(SNIFFLES)

♪ Was a sign ♪

♪ That all the ink ♪

♪ Is invisible ♪

♪ If you give it ♪

- ♪ Give it enough time ♪
- (RUSTLING)

♪ Now I think my eyes are open ♪

♪ I take a deeper dive ♪

♪ When I feel the blue surround me ♪

♪ That's when I come alive ♪

♪ When it starts to feel too lonely ♪

♪ When it's out of my control ♪

♪ When the world goes on without me ♪

♪ Will I feel it take its toll? ♪

♪ Turns out all my mistakes ♪

♪ Were forgivable ♪

♪ The time I spent lost ♪

♪ Was a sign... ♪

You got two weeks.

♪ And all the ink ♪

♪ Is invisible... ♪

You should've left me to rot!

♪ If you give it ♪

♪ Give it enough time. ♪

(SNIFFLES)

Come on.

Let's go home.

Okay.